The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-11
METROPOLITAN SEERS.
THE WICKED WAYS OF NEW YORK
CIA1RvOYANTS.

Slif1lLb V ~ AN
How Poor Girls, Greenhorns from the
country and Negro Gamblers are
Ensnared and Robbed Scenes in the
Prophesy Mongers' Dens.
New YORK, Dec. l0.-Every day for
many moons, as have glanced over the
newspapers in the morning, my eyes have
been struck by announcements of this ma
ture:
Observation-Disclosures gypsy clair.
yoyant from Europe; born with second sight
every hidden mystery revealed; tells your
life from cradle to grave; RECEIVERS stolen
property; finds absent friends; removes all
bad influences; gives good success in bust
ness; tells of stocks, also winning horses re-
moves family troubles; causes speedy mar
riage; brings separated together; gives pict-
ure of one you marry; has the great gypsy
charm; those wishing the truth should call :
all letters answered with stamp open Sun
days; satisfaction or no charge. Prof Paul,
405 Sixth avenue"
There were many of these in every edition,
and all were as startling and wonderful as
the one quoted. Humbug and fraud peered
learn what they really meant and if possible
to expose them. To do this l rugged myself
up as countryman, put on as innocent an
expression as possible, and started out to
learn my fortune. | have acquired enough
information by my experiment to know that
there are more than one hundred awful liars
in this town who are living well and rolling
up fortunes on the gullibility of poor, hard
working men and women.
hox lcCh 81 al
that frauds carried on so openly, and adver-
tised so publicly, are winked at by the same
New York police who boast their superiority
over all guardians Of the peace in other parts
of the world. There can be no excuse for
their apparent ignorance of the existence of
these humbugs, as it is a matter of notoriety.
All these frauds daily extract large sums
of money from the pockets of poor servant
girls and other superstitious poor people
learned that the customers of those alleged
magicians, astrologers, and gypsy fortune
tellers are mostly women. Among the men
the colored element is greatly in the major
ity. The latter are known to put implicit
faith In the lummery with which these
frauds carry on their business. The darkey
applies to them for tips on the races, for
winning numbers in policy, and for inform
alton in all the events of his ordinary life.
The money spent by colored gentlemen daily
families in comfort throughout the year.
was surprised to find among the customers
in these places number of intelligent look
ing men and women.
The first place that l struck in my trip
was little brick house in East Thirtieth
street, not far from Third avenue. There
was nothing remarkable or awe-inspiring
about this house except a small, highly
polished brass plate, which was fastened be-
tween one of the front windows and the
entrance, against the brick wall. 1t bore the
simple inscription: "Mrs. Eppinger, Gypsy
Fortune Teller" 341 East Thirtieth street.
rang the bell and an ordinary looking
German servant girl opened the door. l
walked in expecting to see dark hall
decorated with mysterious monstrosities and
an atmosphere filled with sulphur. was
greatly mistaken. 1t was a very common,
everyday sort of hall, with plain kalso-
mined walls. A pungent odor Of onions and
garlic betrayed the fact that the kitchen
was not far away. l was shown into the
parlor 1t was furnished in the regulation
style of ordinary well-to-do people, with
furniture upholstered in green serge and a
Brussels carpet of very large and faring
pattern. / was invited to sit down in broken
German and await the coming of the mys-
terious madame. | had sat there only about
two minutes when she entered.
She was a portly, good-humored looking
woman with unmistakable German features
and a strong German accent. Upon my
telling her that had come in from Long
Island to learn about a missing horse that
had been stolen from my barn, she said she
could undoubtedly tell me all about it. She
drew up a common looking table containing
several drawers and covered with green
baiZe. From one of the drawers she drew
package of cards, some of which were
decorated with pictures, and others were
ordinary playing cards. She also drew out
a table containing a schedule of her prices.